MetLife Signs on as Global Sponsor of 2013 World Baseball
Classic

Title Sponsor of the MetLife All-World Baseball Classic Team

MetLife Blimps to Provide Unique Broadcast Footage

MetLife's brand ambassador, Snoopy, is shown at the headquarters of the World Baseball Classic in New York City, for the announcement of MetLife's global sponsorship of the World Baseball Classic. (Photo: Business Wire)

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MetLife's brand ambassador, Snoopy, is shown at the headquarters of the World Baseball Classic in New York City, for the announcement of MetLife's global sponsorship of the World Baseball Classic. (Photo: Business Wire)

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MetLife has signed on to be a Global Sponsor and the Official
Insurance Company of the 2013 World Baseball Classic. MetLife, and
its brand ambassador Snoopy, will be incorporated into multiple aspects
of the event including in-stadium exposure and on worldwide media
platforms. MetLife, a leading global insurer operating in 46 countries
worldwide, is joining Brand USA, Delta Air Lines and Konami as the
fourth Global Sponsor of the tournament.

As part of the agreement, MetLife will be the title sponsor of the
All-World Baseball Classic Team. The MetLife All-World Baseball Classic
Team will be comprised of the best performers at each position during
the tournament. Players selected to the previous two teams have included
two-time tournament M.V.P. Daisuke Matsuzaka (Pitcher, Japan – 2006 and
2009), Ken Griffey Jr. (Outfielder, USA – 2006), Adrian Beltre (Third
baseman, Dominican Republic – 2006) and Hyun-Soo Kim (DH, Korea – 2009).

MetLife’s long experience and expertise in covering premier sporting
events from above will allow it to provide dynamic aerial coverage from
its blimps – Snoopy One, Snoopy Two and Snoopy J. The MetLife blimps
will be flying above all the games played in Phoenix, Arizona; Miami,
Florida; Tokyo, Japan and in San Francisco, California. A camera will be
in each blimp capturing scenic aerial footage, as well as crucial
in-game moments, that will be incorporated into the game broadcasts on
MLB Network, ESPN Deportes and the worldwide feed being distributed to
more than 200 countries and territories.

To add to the excitement and fan experience at the games, Snoopy,
donning a World Baseball Classic jersey, will be making special
appearances, interacting with fans and distributing gifts.

"With such a strong presence in the global marketplace, MetLife is
well-positioned to illuminate its brand message across the expansive
World Baseball Classic platform," said Paul Archey, Senior Vice
President, International Business Operations, Major League Baseball.
"MetLife will have a variety of touch points, both inside and outside
the tournament venues, fully integrating them into the event program
this March."

"It’s an honor to welcome MetLife to the World Baseball Classic’s roster
of Global Sponsors," said Timothy Slavin, member of the World Baseball
Classic Board of Directors. "The World Baseball Classic looks forward to
working with MetLife, Snoopy and the entire Peanuts gang to help shine a
spotlight on the world’s greatest players competing for national pride
and global bragging rights. We’re confident MetLife’s global brand
awareness will be enhanced and strengthened by its association with the
world’s premier international baseball tournament."

"Many of the countries fielding World Baseball Classic teams are also
countries where MetLife is a leading insurer," said Richard Hong, vice
president of brand, advertising & promotion, MetLife. "With MetLife’s
strong presence in Japan and Korea where the sport is widely popular,
and with market leading positions in countries like Mexico and the U.S.,
millions of our customers and thousands of our employees are looking
forward to watching some of the world’s best play baseball this March."

The 2013 World Baseball Classic, which is the third edition of the
tournament, will feature the world’s best players representing their
countries and territories. Thirty-nine games will be played in seven
venues in four nations and territories from March 2 through March 19,
2013. Team Japan is the two-time defending champion of the World
Baseball Classic, having won in 2006 and 2009. The World Baseball
Classic, which is officially sanctioned by the International Baseball
Federation (IBAF), will for the first time in 2013 be recognized as the
official national team World Championship, with the winner being crowned
the 2013 World Baseball Classic Champion and the IBAF World Champion.

For the first time, four Qualifiers were held for the 2013 World
Baseball Classic, which expanded the competitive field from 16 to
28 countries. Brazil, Canada, Chinese Taipei and Spain emerged from the
Qualifiers to earn spots in the March 2013 event. Those four Qualifier
teams will join the teams of the 12 countries/territories – Australia,
China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Kingdom of
the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, United States and Venezuela – that
received automatic invitations based on their performances in the 2009
tournament.

In the United States, MLB Network will be the exclusive English-language
broadcast partner for all 39 games while ESPN Deportes will be the
Spanish-language partner. The Semi-Final and Final games will take place
from March 17-19 at San Francisco’s AT&T Park, hosted by the San
Francisco Giants. Second round games will be held in the Tokyo Dome in
Tokyo, Japan from March 8-12 and at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida from
March 12-16. First round games will be held at the Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan
Dome in Fukuoka, Japan from March 2-6; at Intercontinental Stadium from
March 2-5 in Taichung, Taiwan; at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan,
Puerto Rico from March 7-10; and at Chase Field and Salt River Fields at
Talking Stick in Phoenix, Arizona from March 7-10.

About the World Baseball Classic

The World Baseball Classic is the premier international baseball
tournament, sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation, and
features the best players in the world competing for their home
countries and territories.More than 1.5 million fans from
all over the world have attended the tournament games, held in March
2006 and 2009. Team Japan is the reigning World Baseball Classic
Champion, taking home both the inaugural and 2009 titles. The upcoming
World Baseball Classic will be played in March 2013 and will again
feature the greatest baseball-playing nations in the world. The
tournament will be held every four years thereafter.

About World Baseball Classic, Inc.

World Baseball Classic, Inc. (WBCI) is a company created at the
direction of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball
Players Association (MLBPA) to operate the World Baseball Classic
tournament. The tournament, which is sanctioned by the International
Baseball Federation (IBAF), is supported by MLB, the MLBPA, Nippon
Professional Baseball (NPB), the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO),
their respective players associations and other leagues and players from
around the world.

About the International Baseball Federation

The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) is the world
governing body for baseball, comprising 122 national member federations.Together with its member federations, the IBAF is dedicated to the
promotion, development, and organization of baseball around the world.The IBAF is the sole entity recognized by the International
Olympic Committee for overseeing and sanctioning all national team
competition.The IBAF headquarters are located in Lausanne,
Switzerland.

About MetLife

MetLife, Inc. is a leading global provider of insurance, annuities
and employee benefit programs, serving 90 million customers. Through its
subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife holds leading market positions in
the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East
and Africa. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, NY 10166.